Wednesday, May 17, 2006
Beijing Releases Smokescreen to Fool the Dalai Lama
Central News Agency- The Epoch Times May 17, 2006
Tibetan spiritual leader Dalai Lama Tenzin Gyatso (Claudio Pozo/AFP/Getty Images)
TAIPEI - According to reports from The Bowen Press , prior to Chinese President Hu Jintao's visit to the United States, there was endless news of "the Dalai Lama returning to Tibet next month." In addition, officials of the Tibetan government in exile posted messages on their website calling on Tibetans in the U.S. not to protest during Chairman Hu's visit. Such news and actions left many people wondering. Further inquiries revealed that it was all a smokescreen designed by the Chinese authorities in Beijing.
Thorough investigation and inquiries have determined that the tactics used by the Chinese authorities in Beijing on the Tibetan issue had once again fooled the Dalai Lama, who longs to return to his homeland. An unidentified source in Beijing said Hu was aware that the U.S. held a firm position on Tibet. China's Bureau of Religious Affairs and the Public Security Bureaus began talks with the U.S. prior to Hu's visit in an effort to reduce political pressure. One of the results of those talks was to "stabilize" the relationship of the Tibetan government and people in exile, which is headed by the Dalai Lama.
Even though many insiders are reluctant to reveal details, they cannot deny the fact that the arrangements achieved great "success." Results showed that the U.S., to a very large extent held back attempts to use the Tibetan issue to embarrass Hu.
As to why the Dalai Lama was not aware of Beijing's intent and made calls requesting his followers not protest during Hu's visit to the U.S., an insider at the Bureau of Religious Affairs in Beijing suggested that, "the Dalai Lama had no choice because his age and physical condition is making him feel that he is at the end of his abilities."
When questioned further regarding the possibility of the Dalai Lama's returning to Tibet, political insiders all expressed skepticism. First, the current political regime in Beijing cannot tolerate the return of the Dalai Lama to Tibet. In addition, Beijing is still imprisoning the 11th Panchen Lama selected by the Dalai Lama, so how could they be foolish enough to allow the Dalai Lama to return?
Secondly, even though the Dalai Lama has given up fighting for Tibet's independence, he still presents himself as a political figure and continues to call for "true Tibetan autonomy." These words have made Beijing feel very awkward because for the past 50 years Beijing's official rhetoric has always been that Tibet is an autonomous region. Even Beijing's official name for Tibet, "Tibet Autonomous Region," suggests that Tibet has already been granted autonomy.
According to some well informed people, if Beijing authorities were to allow the Dalai Lama to return to Tibet, the only acceptable way this could be explained would be for the Dalai Lama to have returned as "a retired religious figure or as an elderly person returning to his homeland in retirement. In other words, returning to his ancestral home, but not as a person in power or influence."
